Government law examines interactions between the public and the government. Whenever a citizen or other person interacts with the government or an agent of the government there are laws and standards that must be followed.

Some laws are designed to protect individual taxpayers; and others, the public at large. In general, there are two major categories of protections: civil rights emanating from the U.S. Bill of Rights, and federal regulations and acts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act that build upon those civil rights.

To learn more about government law, choose a topic from the list above. Follow these links to articles, videos and FAQ answers covering various subtopics under government law.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution—originated to protect citizens and others within the United States from the actions of the federal government, and were made applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment.

The 14th Amendment contains language that specifically requires states to provide all people within their jurisdiction equal protection under law. As a result, both state and federal governments may not infringe on fundamental rights without a compelling reason to do so. Lesser rights not considered fundamental are also protected to some extent.

Federal Laws

Federal laws (and some state protections) enhancing civil rights are another category of government law discussed here. Over time, Congress has added numerous laws to the protections provided by the Constitution that specifically protect rights of the people.

For example, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1968 protect against discrimination on the basis of race. Most state constitutions and legislation also contribute to civil rights protections for their citizens. Among other issues, we examine the rights of the people to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures and the rights of those within certain classes to be free from discrimination in the workplace, in housing, and by government agencies and officials.

Other Areas of Government Law

Other laws and regulations pertaining to interactions with the government include:

Education Law: the rights of students, laws that apply to public schools, including anti-discrimination laws, as well as laws and regulations pertaining to attendance, discipline, dress codes, and special education.

Public Contracts: an area of law relating to people and government and the relationships between them. Since the United States Government and state and local governments require goods and services to operate, public contracts between the government and businesses are common, and are strictly regulated in order to protect the public and taxpayers and to prevent patronage and favoritism.

Social Security Law: information on applying for benefits, eligibility of beneficiaries and their family members, and appealing benefit assessments are just a few of the topics examined.

To learn about Civil Rights, Education Law, Environmental Law, Public Contracts, Social Security Law or Military Law, choose the topic from the list of links and explore the articles and FAQ answers in each topic.